The Super Eagles B team secured a historic 3-1 aggregate win over the Black Galaxies of Ghana to qualify for the African Nations Championship after a six-year absence.
Following a goalless first-leg draw in Accra, the Nigerian team delivered a commanding performance in Uyo, claiming a 3-1 victory that also put to rest years of heartbreak inflicted by their West African rivals.
Ghana had previously denied Nigeria CHAN qualification in 2008 and 2022. However, this time, the Super Eagles B team was determined to change the narrative.
Speaking after the match, head coach Daniel Ogunmodede revealed how his team overcame the psychological hurdle of Ghana’s historical dominance.
“We studied Ghana and there was nothing we found about them other than history like I said before the match,” Ogunmodede said. “
There strength is history so we tried to blindfold ourselves from that.
We were determined to break the yoke. We wanted to go to Chan, and here we are.”
The coach also shared a motivational moment with his players that inspired their attacking display.
“I told the boys someone said we don’t score goals. That became part of our motivation, and we proved them wrong,” he added.
This qualification marks a return to the CHAN tournament for Nigeria, who last participated in 2018, finishing as runners-up after losing to Morocco in the final.
The 2024 CHAN tournament, to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, presents another chance for Nigeria to chase their first-ever title.
